MLA report cards: Darshan Singh Kotfatta and Jeetmohinder Singh Sidhu
Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:
Darshan Singh Kotfatta,65, Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency: Bathinda Rural
Education: Post-graduate
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 55 lakh
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Makhan Singh of Congress by margin of 5,308 votes
2007: Lost to Makhan from Pakka Kalan; this seat replaced that one in delimitation
Assembly record
Questions asked: 46
Call attention moved: 0
Power punch Low-key politician banks on loyalty to party bosses
What next Is SAD in-charge of Bhucho Mandi; but future uncertain
How he performed
A low-profile leader and also a relative lightweight, Kotfatta has his whole politics revolving around the SAD top brass. In an indication that he wouldn’t contest from this assembly segment in 2017, he was made halqa in-charge of Bhucho Mandi segment in May 2015, and former MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan was made in-charge of Bathinda-rural, signalling her candidature from here.Since then he has lost connect with the people of this segment. People rue that their elected representative is disconnected from them, thus defeating the very purpose of electing him. He didn’t want to talk much about development in the segment, but only mentioned some improvement work on the Dehlwan water distributary.
Voter speak
The MLA has no connect with the people now. In terms of development, his performance has been a mixed bag. Lack of basic amenities troubles people in villages.
Harpal Singh Brar, 33, lawyer
A low-profile leader, he didn’t indulge in political bias. The main town of Kotfatta witnessed development. The SAD shouldn’t have shifted him to Bhucho Mandi as in-charge.
Nirmal Singh, 45, farmer
By the way
Heads Vidhan Sabha library committee
Jeetmohinder Singh Sidhu,52, Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency: Talwandi Sabo
Education: Engineering graduate
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 6.2 cr
Electoral record
2012 bypoll: Won against Harminder Singh Jassi of Cong by 46,642 votes
2007: As Congress candidate, defeated Amarjit Singh Sidhu of SAD by 8,524 votes
Assembly record
Question asked: 0
Call attention moved: 0
Power punch In SAD, was in Cong, won as independent too; money, muscle
What next Likely to again contest on SAD ticket from the segment
How he performed
Though he won the bypoll as SAD candidate by a huge margin after switching from Congress, he earned the tag of being a turncoat. He has developed a youth brigade to flex muscle. An alleged gangster considered close to him was inducted into the SAD in his presence outside his house ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The same youth brigade was allegedly involved in violence during his bypoll. He maintains regular contact with the people of the segment and his supporters. Being an Akali MLA for about half of the government’s tenure, he succeeded in making an impact in terms of development by repair of canals, besides `60 crore spent on road widening and repair, while Rs 10 crore were spent on new roads, school upgrade, and water supply.
Voter speak
Though he is very social and has developed a personal votebank, his image has taken a hit due to his changing political parties. People question his loyalty.
Avtar Singh Chopra, 46, trader
His performance is good. People even accepted his joining SAD as his homecoming as he was with SAD earlier. But the menace of drugs needs to be checked.
Amarjot Singh, 34, runs computer centre
By the way
Photography lover, travels abroad often
Tomorrow: Maur, Mansa, Sardulgar, Budhlada